Bill Shorten booed over turn back the boats plan

FROM abundant applause to enthusiastic booing, Labor's big talk-fest in Melbourne on Friday had it all.

Inside the exhibition centre, delegates were quick to show their outrage over the party's immigration policy backflip but warmed to the rest of leader Bill Shorten's address on everything from climate change to same-sex marriage.

In a speech some saw as an election campaign kick-starter, Mr Shorten said Queensland and Victoria's Labor election victories would go a long way towards making the Abbott Government Australia's first one-termer in 86 years.

James Scullin's ALP regime elected in 1929 and ousted in 1931 was the last one-term federal government.

"This erratic indulgent government, with their knee-high hopes for Australia's future, are trying to drag Australia in the wrong direction," Mr Shorten told the party faithful. "Australians deserve better than a PM who wants to make them afraid of the future."